A question on when and how you die

[Crabtownboy]

I was talking to a pastor from the UK a few weeks ago and we ended up talking about the length of life. He said ... and I have heard comments like this this more and more over the last two years.

He said, "My dad died at 93 last year of Alzheimers. For myself I would rather die of something else earlier and not live long enough to have a disease like Alzheimers."

I replied, partly in jest and partly in seriousness, "The older I become the better a fast heart attack looks."

Have you views on your own length of life changed as you have grown older?

If so, how have they changed?

 

[Baptist Believer]

...He said, "My dad died at 93 last year of Alzheimers. For myself I would rather die of something else earlier and not live long enough to have a disease like Alzheimers."

Having dealt with Alzheimers in my wife's family with four relatives so far, I would not want to live like that, not so much for my own sake, but the pain and stress it would put on my family.

I replied, partly in jest and partly in seriousness, "The older I become the better a fast heart attack looks."

On my mother's side of the family, all of the women have died of sudden, massive heart attacks in their 80s. My grandmother died at home alone one evening at bedtime, but previous generations died at the dinner table or while having conversations with family.

While the shock is hard on the family, I think it is much more preferable to the alternatives. I believe my mother actually hopes to die that way instead of the long, painful deaths we have witnessed in my family from cancer.

My own father had lung cancer, and when it was starting to get very painful and he went on hospice care, we were praying that God would be merciful to him. The next morning he woke up at 6:00, hugged my mother and had a heart attack that took him in moments. He had no history of any heart issues.

As for myself, I honestly don't have any fear of death. I've nearly died a couple of times and I was at peace about it. God can take my life any way that's appropriate for His purposes, but I'd rather have it happen in a way that spares my wife and family needless pain.

Financially, I have insured my life so my wife will be financially secure if something happens to me. For those who have that option available, I strongly recommend providing that financial protection for your family.

 

[exscentric]

When I was in my 20's I really did not expect to see 40. At 71 I still wonder why I'm still around other than the good Lord has some use for it. One of my great grandfathers and a grandfather just dropped dead in their old age - one standing in the yard just dropped, the other pushed back from the dinner table, took out his pipe and was gone.

Looks good to me :thumbs: No pain, no suffering, no hospitals poken around with needles n knives, yep looks good - maybe while posting on Baptist board :type:

I really dislike the idea of the big A that you mentioned, have seen it in action in some relatives and it ain't nice.

 

[John Toppass]

Well, I would kinda like to look up and then meet my Lord Jesus in the air!!!
But, if my time comes before then, I pray it would be quick and spare my family.

 

[just-want-peace]

My dad died at age 52 from kidney failure complicated by diabetes; IOW he had a long (~2 years) stretch of failing health before the end.
My mom OTOH will turn 100 should she last til Oct., and still coherent and mobile. She is deteriorating, but still does her own laundry in an assisted living facility.
I'm pushing 75, and have no fear of death (and at times would welcome it considering the path I see our nation taking), but hope for a quick ending should the rapture be delayed long enough.
Actually I'm hoping that it (rapture) is just around the corner.

 

[Deacon]

I replied, partly in jest and partly in seriousness, "The older I become the better a fast heart attack looks."

In some ways I have very similar feeling about some aspects of death as my co-worker, who is not a Christian.

Both of us desire a long life, free from pain and we don’t want to be a burden on those we love.
We both work in the field of cardiology, where life and death decisions are considered daily.

One medical device that we’ve talked about is a state-of-the-art implantable internal defibrillator.
A fatal arrhythmia is a surprisingly quick but painless way to die.
When a patient’s heart is weakened by disease and prone to fatal arrhythmia a defibrillator can be inserted.

The aspect of this that we find disturbing is that sometimes these devises are inserted in quite elderly patients.

The technology does offer hope for those prone to this type of death, but at the cost of dying a prolonged, perhaps terrifying death.

Rob

 

[Crabtownboy]

One medical device that we’ve talked about is a state-of-the-art implantable internal defibrillator.
A fatal arrhythmia is a surprisingly quick but painless way to die.
When a patient’s heart is weakened by disease and prone to fatal arrhythmia a defibrillator can be inserted.

The aspect of this that we find disturbing is that sometimes these devises are inserted in quite elderly patients.

The technology does offer hope for those prone to this type of death, but at the cost of dying a prolonged, perhaps terrifying death. Rob

You have put your finger on how modern medicine is a two-edged sword. It saves lives of young people, giving them years of productive life. But it also saves lives of elderly folk and often condemns them to miserable deaths.

I had a friend who had a heart attack. He was quite elderly. His life was saved. Within 30 days he was diagnosed with lung cancer and dies a most horrible death. He would have been spared much terrible suffering if he had died of the heart attack.

 

[just-want-peace]

You have put your finger on how modern medicine is a two-edged sword. It saves lives of young people, giving them years of productive life. But it also saves lives of elderly folk and often condemns them to miserable deaths.

I had a friend who had a heart attack. He was quite elderly. His life was saved. Within 30 days he was diagnosed with lung cancer and dies a most horrible death. He would have been spared much terrible suffering if he had died of the heart attack.

I'm in total agreement on this issue. This is why I have a living will.

I believe it is just as wrong to artificially prolong life when life w/o a machine is impossible, as it is to hasten death by artificial means a la' Dr Kevorkian.

 

[blackbird]

I replied, partly in jest and partly in seriousness, "The older I become the better a fast heart attack looks."

Have you views on your own length of life changed as you have grown older?

If so, how have they changed?

Paragraph #1-----------------I tell my wife all the time that I want to have the biggest, baddest, meaniest, "Mamma Jamma" heart attack there has ever been since Adam---make dieing "quick & snappy"

Paragraph #2---------I'm 52 now---and at best I have another 30 years left---tops!!!! But whats 30 years compared to eternity????!!!

I tell my wife that if I wind up in Hospital and there is a need to put me on "Life Support"---to not try very, very hard to get the doc to do that!!!!!!!!!!! Doc---"I need to put him on Life Support NOW!!!!!"-------------Blackbird's wifey---""Ummmmm!! Can we wait about another 15 minutes or so, Doc???!!!"

Blackbird
:saint::saint:

 

[Tom Bryant]

Turning 60 soon and so I have thot about it. I have a living will in which my desires are spelled out. But, as I discovered in my dad's situation. He had a massive heart attack. I did CPR on him until the EMT's arrived. They asked if he had a DNR. He had always said "no machinery!" But we never thot of it because he was in relatively good health so they put him on the machines. We didn't know that he had been without oxygen and blood to his brain for almost 10 minutes and he would never regain conciousness. But because we started him at the house on life support, it would be almost a week before any of it could be removed, even though every doctor said he was non-functioning at all. There was no way we could have known how bad it was at the time, but the mere act of calling the EMT was tantamount to giving permission for him to be hooked up

This may be part of another thread, but there have been times in pastoral ministry where I believe that the person is already at home with Jesus but their body is still alive because of machinery.

 

[Alive in Christ]

I've already died. My death took place back in 1982. almost 30 years ago.

My dieing is over. (except for dieing to the flesh of course.)

Absent from the body, present with the Lord.

Praise God!

 

[Baptist Believer]

This may be part of another thread, but there have been times in pastoral ministry where I believe that the person is already at home with Jesus but their body is still alive because of machinery.

I believe this as well.

 

[Gina B]

Mine have changed because of my past work as a CNA.

Most terrible thing was a man screaming for his mother because of pain. Maybe not as horrible as human nature at its worse...they wouldn't give him pain meds because his insurance didn't cover it and he had no family. More human nature...another on his deathbed and me getting yelled at because I cut up a red blanket to use under him because all the place had was white blankets and the blood was freaking him out. I told the staff where to go and if it meant that much, take the dang blankets out of my check but I'd be cutting up as many as it took to make his last few hours easier.

I am hesitant to discuss what they are because medicine changes and that can affect those things, so I wouldn't want someone with one of those things to read it and give up hope.

I would urge people to make sure they have insurance and that they have a living will made out that is as specific as it needs to be to make the transition from earth to glory an easier one. You wanna be shoutin hallelujah when you go, not ouch! Too many don't understand the importance of those things. Be prepared. It's amazing how many people aren't prepared and family is scrambling for money and to make decisions during a time they often just aren't capable of either.

 

[webdog]

I'm in total agreement on this issue. This is why I have a living will.

I believe it is just as wrong to artificially prolong life when life w/o a machine is impossible, as it is to hasten death by artificial means a la' Dr Kevorkian.

All of those born prematurely should just be left to die?! If my son got in an accident where his trachea was damaged and needed assistance breathing..I should just let him die?!?

 

[SBCPreacher]

I've told my family that when I die, don't try to bring me back. Just let me go. My eternity is secure - I have no doubt.

My only concern is to live long enough to be a REAL problem for my family. I don't want to burden them with that.

I like what blackbird said - one quick HUGE heart attack.

I heard about a man who said he wanted to die like his grandpaw - quietly in his sleep. Not like the other people in the car screaming and hollering as granpaw drove over that cliff.

 

[SBCPreacher]

Hey, listen. I vote for the group method - let's all go home when Jesus comes to get us, and may that day be SOON!

 

[BobinKy]

A few decades ago I went to a financial planning seminar and the instructor used the term "check out time." That term has always stuck with me. So I will use it here in this post.

I have always thought I would live to age 65 or so. Now I am 61. I think I am on schedule. I do not see myself living to 75 or beyond. I may be wrong. I am ready to check out. Not that I want to go, but I am ready whenever God takes me. Maybe God has another 40 years for me? If so, then I am ready for that also.

Somewhere along the way I began to live like everyday is both the first day and last day of my life. No yesterdays, no tomorrows--just today. I never really checked this philosophy against scripture. There are probably verses supporting this philosophy and verses finding fault with this way of thinking and living.

Anyway, here is my funeral song.


...Bob

 

[Jon-Marc]

The older I get, the more ailments and pain I suffer. I want my life to end quickly and with as little pain as possible. I'd rather go in my sleep.

 

[blackbird]

One of my favorite Aunts was 87 at the time of her heart attack in the Nursing home----------------she recovered----the nurses administered CPR and the works

After her recovery she looked at me and said

David!! Don't you EVER let them do that to me again!! I remember EVERYTHING they did in the resusatation---pounding on my chest and all----PLEASE don't let them do that to me again!!!

We went to her doctor and signed a DNR

My mom signed a DNR(that DNR followed her in her medical chart from doctor to doctor and finally to the grave) and upon her death of terminal cancer---she stepped on into eternity absent from the body/present with the Lord!!

 

[just-want-peace]

All of those born prematurely should just be left to die?! If my son got in an accident where his trachea was damaged and needed assistance breathing..I should just let him die?!?

OK WD, I admit I was not specific enough, BUT I did think we were discussing ELDERLY situations, not a general response to needed medical aid.

OK?????